Tom Hooper, left, of Finding Sanctuary, and Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, from the Marine Conservation Society, gave a talk at Les Cotils about marine protected areas. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0753825)
MARINE protected areas should be implemented around Guernsey, according to experts.
The areas protect marine habitats and are thought to increase healthy fish stocks.
Marine Conservation Society biodiversity policy officer Dr Jean-Luc Solandt said they were important because the seas had been in decline for 100 years.
‘There is an opportunity for wildlife in marine areas to recover. The benefits of marine protected areas are massive,’ he said.
Finding Sanctuary project manager Tom Hooper said as well as fish stocks recovering if such areas were implemented, many other species, from worms to basking sharks, would also thrive.
‘You don’t have to eat it to value it.
‘A marine protected area means a healthy habitat and healthy fish. They are often much more resilient and productive,’ he said.
‘And fishermen fish around them because they get the best stock.’
The areas have been used around the world, from the USA to Australia, for the last 30 years. But there are few in northern Europe.
Different levels of protection are often put in place and some will limit high levels of human activity by excluding dredging, dumping, beam trawling or mobile fishing gear.
Mr Hooper and Mr Solandt arrived in Guernsey after giving a presentation in Jersey about the benefits of marine protected areas.
They wanted to highlight how the Channel Islands could be involved in developing new areas, alongside the UK and France.
The UK has a new marine and coastal access act, which means new legislation will soon lead to a network of protected areas.
Similarly France is developing its own areas after creating a marine agency in 2006.
Article posted on 11th April, 2009 - 2.29pm
6 Article Comments
Well I think most people would agree, about the outlook for Marine life.
However, Marine life hasn’t a chance in ‘L’ if the sewage problem isn’t solved, and quickly at that.
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I went to the talk in the evening at Candie Museum and had a great time. It was thoroughly enjoyable, well thought-out and gave plenty of factual information. Well done to the Conservationists, the Co-Op and GCAN and whoever else sponsored these people to come over, it was very worthwhile. Let’s have more events like this and give them a higher profile in the media, eh?
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Excellent proposal, this would enable some meaningful protection for the number of declining marine species such as Puffins and Ormers. The evidence is there. It would have been good to hear where anglers and fishermen propose to implement these areas.
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Eric
I think you will find that our sea life is amongst the best in the world. Our shell fish is at the top of the list also.
Our sewage has not harmed anything to date and I believe never would. Quite the opposite in fact. The fish feed on it and is basically naturally recycled.
If every country on this planet was to stop pumping their waste into the sea then our fish stocks and other ocean life would decrease substantially.
Not a good move at all.
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Oh I understand all that Paul;
I mean simply that bit sounds horrible; to think of the sewage that is all around Guernsey,
I think of people (not their fault) But I think of people with some deadly sickness
If one is swimming, it is inevitable one will swallow some sea water; Can you say with absolute certainty that no affects will happen?
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What an appetizing thought,that lovely crab we had for lunch had been fattened up from what went down our toilet!
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